[2][3] Typically its diameter does not exceed 5 mm, the actual growth parameters of Ulva prolifera depend on the magnitude of the algal bloom that it is associated with.

In Europe, it can be found in such countries as Bulgaria, France, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and on Lolland island of Denmark.

Besides the states, Africa and Europe, it is common in Central American countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, and Cuba, with Mexico occasionally getting them on the Pacific side.

The green tide is a major environmental concern that involves the impacts from natural, anthropogenic, physicochemical and algae factors along with the warming of local water.

This continued as an annual problem for about a decade and caught additional attention in 2008, when the sailing games of the Beijing Olympics was hosted in the city of Qingdao and the green tides can cause great economical and ecological impacts.

Analysis of meteorological and environmental data and local aquaculture activities strongly supports the hypothesis that the U. prolifera blooms in the Yellow Sea originated from the water off of the coast of Jiangsu.

[7] Due to the development of Porphyra yezoensis aquaculture and the excess nutrients deployed for its growth, the water condition is made suitable for algal bloom and green tides when the appropriate seasons come.