The transition and the change in pore morphology of a porous alumina membrane prepared by anodically oxidizing aluminum in sulfuric acid were studied mainly by TG-DTA, TMA, dilatometry and TEM. At ca. 1243 K, TMA showed an expansion followed by contraction; the CO2 and SO2 gases were quickly discharged, and the pore morphology of the as-prepared porous membrane (ca 150 mm-t, with pores ca 25 nm in diameter and containing ca 11% by mass of SO2) showed an abrupt change, but the pores were retained to ca. 1573 K. Sulfur incorporated in the membrane was lost in two stages, i.e., at ca 1243 K and in a range up to 1373 K. Isothermal measurements revealed the complex crystallization of the amorphous phase into polycrystalline phase.