So how could melting ice caps be the driving force in warmer air?
Methinks there is a cart pulling a horse somewhere in this scenario.
If the ice caps are melting, then perhaps something else is to blame, but AFAIK, the ice caps were there, happy and healthy this year (perhaps submarine volcanic activity in the Arctic Ocean slacked off).
We are entering a new dark age where what once was reasoned science has become dogma and superstition to the point that reasoning is being dumped on its head.
True, but they release it each year when the ice refreezes. Look at various years in this plot http://ocean.dmi.dk/arctic/meant80n.uk.php and you will see generally more warmth than average in the fall and less in the spring. The spring cooling is the absorption of heat as you point out. The fall warmth is from the refreeze.
See my response at #19. The ice is an insulator over (relatively) warm water.